Here we have it! Everything has gotten corrected as well as a lot of new updates/plot sequences. It is a lot different from how the fic had initially gone, but I'm relatively pleased with the direction it took. Things are less chaotic and don't feel as forced. I've been re-working all the chapters, so I hope you all enjoy it!

(crazy4beverages originally wrote this chapter)

"A camping trip?"

The Heffley's were all gathered around the dining table for supper while his brother, Manny, was sitting next to him and stuffing food in his little mouth like there was no tomorrow. Greg couldn't help but wonder why. The last time they went on a vacation was years ago, and he didn't want to remember the experience he had on that water slide.

"Yes, a camping trip with the five of us! It's going to be at Salt Lakes Camping Destination!" Mom happily stated while giving Rodrick a look, the 'You're coming no matter what, and I don't want to hear it' look.

"We haven't gone on a family vacation in a while, not since Rockin' Rapids. This time, though, we're all going no matter what! And since we want to make sure you two won't get the chance to get in trouble like last time, we're leaving tomorrow right after school, right at the start of summer vacation. Won't this be fun?!" Their mother had a wide grin on her face.

Greg just shook his head and went back to eating, trying to digest the information he got told.

"Now Susan that seems highly unfair… Springing this on us out of the blue, the day before summer break to boot! I had plans this weekend, big plans, plans that would pave my future."

Hand gestures flayed around to emphasize what Rodrick was trying to say. Leave it to his brother to try and get out of a family vacation. Greg kind of agreed with him, though; he had wanted to hang out with his friends. He had also planned to invite Holly with them, but he wasn't able to find her anywhere.

"I don't want to hear it, Rodrick, it's just for a couple of weeks. You'll have the rest of the summer vacation to do whatever you wanted to do." Susan gave her eldest son a look to signify that there was no way out. Her mind dead set, and there was no going back on it.

Greg was looking at his plate when he saw Rodrick out of the corner of his eyes start to back away from the kitchen table, his chair legs scraping against the tiled floor aggressively. His mother yelled at her eldest son to get back here, but Rodrick gave no indignation of having heard anything, Greg knew his older brother was just ignoring her on purpose. Rodrick slipped on his shoes and walked out of the house, slamming the door behind him once he was out.

Greg gave a puzzled look in his mother's direction, not understanding what just happened either. His mother just shook her head, and his father was angrily munching on his food, a menacing look flickering in his eyes to signal that once Rodrick came back, he would be in trouble, but he'd still have to go on the trip. Their parents knew how to make their lives miserable by being kind.

In record time, Greg finished eating his supper and then excused himself from the table. He ran up the stairs to grab his phone, so he could talk to Rowley about what had just happened.

His older brother was being weird; it was just a camping trip for a couple of weeks. He didn't need to storm out of the house in a temper tantrum. It made him wonder, exactly what was the big problem with spending time with them? Didn't Rodrick love them? Okay, maybe not, but a little bit surely?

"What do you mean, he stormed out of the house?"

Greg had been talking to Rowley for the past thirty minutes about what had transpired downstairs in their kitchen. It was very tiring, having to explain everything over and over again, but Rowley was his best friend, so it was something he was willing to do.

"Exactly Rowley; he got so pissed off that he left the house. He probably went to go hang out with his friends like he usually does, complain about us most likely." Greg softly sighed as he laid down on his bed, looking up at his white ceiling. Rowley was talking about something, about how maybe he was just frustrated. Greg rubbed his own eyes in frustration.

"Of course he's frustrated, Rowley, I am too! Our parents are forcing us on this trip. I am not thrilled. Camping involves bugs, and sunburns, being forced into a small space with four other people." Rowley was just so slow at times. Greg rolled over on his bed so that he was now laying face first in his pillow.

"You know Greg when I was talking with Holly she said that she was going on a camping trip for a few weeks too. That's why she was not at school this week. Hey, maybe you'll see her at that camping place…what was the name she told me? Salt, Salt, something?"

Greg sprang upwards so fast, causing the blood to rush down quickly and leave him slightly light-headed. He grunted and looked at his phone, wondering why Rowley knew something this important and waited this long to mention anything. He pursed his lips in an unpleasant scowl and began speaking in an accusatory tone.

"And you decided just NOW to tell me?! Geez Rowley, if I would have known that Holly went to Salt Lakes, I wouldn't have been as depressed when my parents told me! This could be my time to finally put a move on Holly. It's great!" Greg let out another sigh, this time of content, and fell on his bed once more in contentment, saying goodbye to Rowley and hitting the end button on the phone.

Nothing could ruin his mood now. Everything was great, just perfect. He could finally be able to connect with Holly, and not even his dumb older brother could ruin that. 'Speaking of older brothers…' Greg thought to himself as he heard the front door slam shut and hurried footsteps going up the stairs.

Greg knew that Rodrick was going to his room so that his parents wouldn't be able to get to him first, but what surprised him was when his brother opened his door then locked it right behind him. Greg shot him a questioning look. What was he doing?

"Can I help you…?" Tone accusing and skeptical. He wasn't in the mood to get punched.

"Just shut up and listen to me, wimp. You need to make up an excuse to not go. Get sick, get drunk, do SOMETHING that will force us to stay here. I know, let me break your leg." Rodrick looked wild; he seemed to look like a caged animal ready to pounce at any sudden sound.

"Rodrick…what are you doing? Why are you so dead set on not going and making a big deal out of it? You're acting extra right now." He grabbed a pillow off to the side as a type of protection despite knowing it wouldn't do anything. Rodrick took a few steps toward Greg, which had the younger brother backing up until his back pressed against the headboard.

"I just can't go, alright! Do this for me, if you don't… I'll make it hell, I promise you that." Rodrick rocked on his feet. He looked like a maniac; what the hell did he go do while he was gone?

"I'm sorry, but I can't." The only thing Greg was able to say, what did Rodrick expect him to do about his mother who wasn't going to back down? The thought of spending time with Holly overshadowed Rodrick's demand. He wouldn't give this chance up for anything, even if it meant facing Rodrick in this frightening state.

"What did you say?! You can or you won't…?"

"I won't." Rodrick let out a small laugh, shaking his head like he was in denial.

"And why exactly won't you make something up, so we don't have to go? Hmmm, I thought you didn't want to go? What suddenly changed your mind?" Greg could hear the clenching of teeth Rodrick had going on. Why was Rodrick acting this way? Greg let out a sigh as he pushed his brown hair out of his chocolate brown eyes.

"Because, Holly is going to be there….and….I like her and all…that…" Greg's eyes never strayed from Rodrick's as he said that. He couldn't even if he wanted too, Rodrick's dark eyes had a way of pulling him in and holding him captive. Dark brown locked on honey brown so intently that he felt something stir inside of him. Fear. Fear of the way his brother was looking at him and fear of the pain he was surely going to receive. When Rodrick busted out laughing, it was probably the most frightening thing he had ever seen.

"Don't make me laugh like you'd have any chance with her. Face it shrimp; she'd never been able to handle you. You need someone that can take care of your wimpy little ass and keep you in line."

Greg could only watch as Rodrick took those few steps forward and grabbed him by the arm in a tight grip, eyes shutting instinctively after the burn. His first instinct was to yell out, but he decided to bite his tongue and keep quiet. Greg quickly grabbed onto the aching bruise that was bound to form on his arm once Rodrick let go.

"You'll regret this, Greg, you really will. I'll make this trip a living hell for you. Like cat and mouse, you brought this on to yourself." Rodrick's eyes hardened in Greg's direction before he huffed indignantly out and slammed his way out of the room.

Greg could only stare at the now-closed door of his brother's bedroom on the other side of the hallway. A tightness gripping at his chest. What exactly had just happened? What did he do to deserve this? What exactly did his brother mean by he needed someone that would take care of him? He didn't need anyone to take care of him! He could take care of himself just great. And what was all this about a Cat and Mouse game?

Greg hadn't noticed that he was shaking. Was he shaking from fear, anticipation, weirdly enough, a little bit of denial? Greg let out a deep, shaky breath, not really in the mood to do anything but cuddle up in his bed and try to go to sleep. He threw one of his pillows at the light switch on the wall.

Everything went black.